Don't know the ID of the cactus but what attracted me to it long ago was that the needles were far apart from each other enough so that I could touch the flesh (oops, wrong forum for this) and the apple green coloring was attractive.

My semp planted in log from last year did not survive the winter. And I did not try to replant it.

I have to go out this week and check all my containers. The house painters have smashed a couple of things and I am almost afraid to look at all of them as I put them back. I am only going to move them when I am sure they are all finished. (by late this week I think)

Ooh, Marilyn, sorry to hear about the patio (?) members being in danger. Hopefully not too much damage?
After the plundering of Lynn's beds in May, your log planter shouId have plenty of new candidates for planting?

The log with cactus planting is a snap to care for as the cactus doesn't ask for much; it's the rest of the container plantings that I did in 2013 that need all the constant maintenance. So I treated myself to an "organizer" to keep planted containers off the ground where the flagstone was getting really hot on those 90 degree days, to help me keep a good eye (level) on them and to facilitate easier watering without having to bend down:

Ooh, Bev, I love your set up. I've got to find one like that. I've had some semp loses and am still trying to feel my way around them. It's just too wet, too hot in this area, but I refuse to give up. All the ones planted out in the open, just rotted away. I find that I just have to keep them under shelter. The survivors that are (neglected), are doing well, but I've lost most of my labels. I've had some repotted in chick grit rot, because they sat out in 2 days of rain while I was away. Around here we get pop up showers all the time, and they sometimes don't show on the radar. I also had to learn the hard way that when I buy semps in large or deep pots, I need to take them out, change the soil, and repot, or else the roots will rot. All in all, I think I've got the hang of it now.

It is strange I too had trouble when I started growing semps and moisture but with tender succulents I do not have trouble with moisture.

I have a lot of pine trees that shed so I mix gravel and pine needles and lay my semps on top. They seem to grow better with no soil than in soil in my area. Between snow and rain they just do not like or need soil.

Love, love, love your organizer Bev. I like the idea of having up so you don't have to stoop to water and maintain. I have most of mine now on the ground as I thought the might last through the winter better if they were low. They are also so heavy I can't easily move them around.

Deborah, good luck on getting everything rearranged to your satisfaction. I will begin serously looking at what I need to do to get mine through the winter (THEY say we will have an early one this year )